CHAPTER 1

IT'S TIME.

There is a moment in our life. Well, actually there are many moments in our life, but this one moment I am trying to talk about can come at any age, any time. It's like a surprise attack. Usually it comes when we are facing a big decision, something life changing. It's that moment when we panic, and nothing else makes sense. When we no longer know who we are nor who we aim to be. We are lost.

Well, that's me right now. A few days ago I was just this average girl. Nothing special about me, nothing out of the ordinary. I had a perfect routine that never let me down, I had friends, people who cared. Oh, please, don't take this wrongly, they still care. It's just that I don't.

Well, I am still that girl, but about two years ago I switched schools. Thought a change could do me well. It was amazing. On the first few weeks, than it all went back to normal. The new routine was just that. A routine. So when I got a notice from an old friend of my old school, I was thrilled. I missed those little buggers.

I felt like not a day passed by since I left that place. I spent twelve years of my life growing in the same educational system, the same school, so I got hit pretty hard when I went back after two years. They were organizing a music festival inside the high school. My best friend's band was playing so I though it would be cool to go and give them some love.

I had just passed through the blue metal gates when he saw me. I swear to God, if my childhood were to have a face, it would be his. The name is John Cooper, one of my infancy best friends. We used to be four. John, me, James and Carl. We were the Fantastic Four. If one got in trouble, I would play lawyer. If someone messed with me, I had three personal securities to take care of it.

But I guessed as time went by and we all followed in different directions, we didn't talk as much as we used to. With all of us finishing senior year, it was harder to keep in touch. Universities and grades got in the way, until we didn't talk at all. It has been about a year and a half since our last talk.

Than that night happened. James was playing his bass as if the world would end, and John was just staring at me. He seemed to be in a state of trance, until I stepped towards him. His feet worked fast as he ran and jumped at me, both of us falling. He was hugging me tightly, and I could feel his hands shake. My boy was here, hugging me. I hugged back and we laughed at everything and anything at the same time. All of those passed years we spent together came back flooding me with mixed emotions. Guilt, love, sadness, happiness. Really, I didn't know if I should cry or laugh.

Everything was going fine on those two minutes we hugged each other in the dirty floor of the school's patio with the metal band playing behind us. Everything was perfect. Until he opened his mouth.

I could see he was speaking, but I couldn't hear. It was to loud in that place. With the bass echoing and the drums banging, I couldn't hear a thing. John's eyes were sparking and he was gesticulating too much. After a few minutes, he paused to take a breath and then started again. The music was reaching it's last climax, almost over, and than I would ask him to repeat everything again, but I didn't have time. When the music stopped, his word hit me hard.

"...and I spent the last two week in rehab, but I am clean now."

Shock ran through my body. I was frozen and his eyes were looking at me expectantly. My next words were ones I regret until now. "What did you say?"

Don't blame me, blame the shock. It took control of my brain. He was in a fucking rehab for fuck's sake!

He chuckled lightly and repeated the information. All of those memories, all of that happiness, crumbled right in front of me. My heart was beating too hard, and my breathing was too shallow. Everything was just too much.

My reaction seemed to pass unnoticed by him, so John just keeps on talking. "And Carl is crazy, dude! I swear, he is high all the time. He got in trouble with the police and stuff."

Another piece of me, my identity, just broke. Carl got caught by the police? High? Since when the sweet guy that used to play Halo with me is a marijuana abuser?

At least James was still James. "James changed a lot, too. Turned out to be an asshole. He thinks he is better than everybody and is hooking up with all the girls now, those poor things." or not.

That was the last drop for me. James, my fat friend that is not fat anymore, is the new player? He used to give me long speeches, warning me about those kind of guys. He was the one that had the final say in who I dated. He was the biggest nerd!

I wanted change right? Guess I got change. Hell, how I got it. It was only a downhill from there. We talked a bit more, went out to grab a bite, and all the stories got worse.

The night passed in a flash, and ended with John walking me home. As we said goodbye to each other, he said something that cut me deep. It made me realize that I was the wrong one.

"It was so good seeing you, Maya." he said, smiling like the Cheshire Cat. "You haven't changed one bit."

Well, maybe it's time to.

-----------------------

Heyoo!! Whattup?

So this is an idea that just bloomed in my head. Yes, bloomed.

I've had somethings in my head for some time now, and needed to let it all out and BAM! Somehow Something was born.

Please, leave some feedback so I know if you guys like it. Or nah. I'd like to know anyways :P

Comment/vote :)

See ya later, alienator. Xx